Elastic shoelace



July 7, 1942. 5 H. TONAI 2,289,225

ELASTIC SHOE LACE Filed Sept. 1l,""1941""-' .7"

H/DEO. 7'0/vA/ fizwaai ih Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE ELASTIC SHOELACE Hideo Tonai, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application September 11, 1941, Serial No. 410,469

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe laces or fasteners and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an independent, elastic device of this character which is adapted to be permanently secured to the shoe and which comprises a simple but novel construction and arrangement whereby said shoe may be expeditiously fastened and unfastened.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an independent elastic shoe lace or fastener of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eliicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specificalion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a portion of a shoe which is provided with a plurality of elastic laces or fasteners constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral l designates a portion of a conventional shoe. The shoe I is provided with the usual pairs of lace receiving eyelets 2.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a resilient rubber strand 3 of a length to extend between the pairs of eyelets 2. The strand 3 terminates, at its ends, in integral ball heads 4 which, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, are adapted to seat in the eyelets 2.

Embedded in one end portion of the strand 3 and projecting from the head 4 thereon is a bendable hook 5. On the free end portion of the bendable hook 5 is a tooth or barb 6 which is adapted to bite into the shoe l.

Embedded in the other end portion of. the resilient rubber strand 3 and projecting from the ball head t thereon is a rigid hook 7. Of course, the hook I is engageable in the eyelet 2 which is opposite that in which the hook 5 is engaged.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Of course, one of the devices is provided for each pair of the eyelets 2 in the shoe l. The bendable hook 5 is inserted through an eyelet and the tooth or barb 6 thereon is pressed into the material of the shoe upper. Thus, the lace or fastener is permanently secured on the shoe. The hook I is then engaged in the opposite eyelet. The ball heads 4 facilitate obtaining a good grip on the end portions of the device, in addition to closing the eyelets 2 and enhancing the appearance of the article.

It is believed that the many advantages of an elastic shoe lace or fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention will be read ily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A shoe fastener of the character described comprising an elastic strand, integral ball heads on the ends of said strand, a bendable hook projecting from one of said heads and engageable in an eyelet in a shoe, a tooth on the free end portion of said bendable hook, and a rigid hook projectmg from the other head and engageable in an opposite eyelet, said heads being adapted to seat in and close the eyelets.

HIDEO TONAI. 

